Salford City Reds 22 Leigh Centurions 10

The City Reds
By Matt Lawton
March 30 2003

A late flurry of tries from Salford gave the City Reds a victory over the Centurions in a virtually meaningless Arriva Cup game at the Willows.

With both sides already comfortably through to the next round of the competition you would have been forgiven in thinking that both sides would take a slightly relaxed attitude towards to the game. However, if that was the case then the players certainly hid it very well as both sides fought out a ferocious battle at the Willows.

In the baking Manchester sunshine Leigh struggled to take advantage when on the rare occasions they had possession in a tight first half.

Salford spent most of the first half camped inside the Leigh half but outstanding defence from the Centurions, which has previously been a huge weakness in recent weeks, restricted Salford to only one try despite Salford almost constantly having the ball in their hands.

Leigh had very little chances and squandered possession on far too many occasions, gifting Salford with yet more opportunities to cross the whitewash which they ultimately failed to take advantage of. The Centurions had a few half-chances with Dale Cardoza, Dave Bradbury and John Duffy all making breaks towards the Salford line but failing to reach the whitewash.

Yet more incredible defence from Leigh continued to frustrate the City Reds as they put in outstanding defensive set after outstanding defensive set.

Salford looked as though they might run away with the game in the manner that Huddersfield Giants did on many occasions against the Centurions last season when they extended their lead after only four minutes.

However, Leigh didn't crumble after conceding, unlike the three encounters against the now-Super League outfit Huddersfield.

Leigh pulled back a try through John Duffy to give the Leigh travelling army plenty of hope which was fully justified when former Widnes Vikings centre Damian Munro went over in the corner to give Leigh the lead and send the Leigh supporters at that end wild with delight.

Leigh looked as though they could clinch a famous victory but that would be forgetting the fact that Salford a full time side and are always likely to come good towards the end.

This was proved to be the case as the City Reds scored three late tries to give them a rather-flattering twelve point victory.